INTERNSHALA ASSIGNMENT

Submitted By: Bhavya Jha

Problem Statement:

Developing a platform where users can easily buy and sell used books, catering to
audiences like students, avid readers, and book collectors. The challenge is to design a
mobile app that simplifies these transactions, ensures transparency, and provides a smooth
user experience for both buyers and sellers.

Scope of the Application:

A. Primary Objective:
 To create a platform where users can list used books for sale or purchase second-
hand books at affordable prices with ease.

B. Core Features:
 For Buyers:
 Browse or search for books by category, author, title, or genre.
 View detailed book descriptions, conditions, and pricing.
 Purchase books through secure payment methods.
 Track the status of their orders.

 For Sellers:
 List books for sale by uploading details such as title, price, condition, and photos.
 Track their sales and receive timely payment.
 Interact with buyers when necessary for queries or disputes.

 Additional Features:
 Search Filters: Narrow results by price, book condition, location, and more.
 Rating and Review System: Allow buyers to rate sellers and provide feedback for
transparency.
 Notifications: Notify users about new listings, price drops, or order updates.

C. Target Audience:
 Students (Age Group- 13 to 30) : One who go to school/ college or are preparing for
competitive exams looking for affordable textbooks or academic materials.
 Avid Readers (Age Group- 15 to 60): Searching for second-hand novels, rare books,
or discounted collections.
 Sellers: People wanting to declutter their bookshelves or monetize their used books,
Second Hand Book Sellers.
 Book collectors hunting for out-of-print editions or specific genres.
 Parents Buying book for their Children.

D. Target areas:
By keeping in mind market trade off model, user behaviour of region and availability of
resources.
 Tier 1 cities
 Tier 2 cities.
E. Assumptions:
 Users have access to smartphones and are familiar with basic app navigation.
 Delivery services are available and accessible for the app’s target regions.
 All transactions will be digital, though a cash-on-delivery option may also be included.
 Books listed will include relevant details (e.g., condition, edition, year of publication)
for transparency.
 The app will follow a moderation process to ensure the quality of listings and reduce
spam.

F. Constraints:
 This app will focus only on buying and selling books (no rentals, exchanges, or bulk
trading options).
 The solution needs to be lightweight and optimized for mobile platforms to
accommodate low-end devices.

Define User- Types of users, their actions and functionality:

A. User Types
The app will cater to three main types of users:
1. Buyers:
a) Users interested in purchasing used books for their personal, academic, or
professional needs.
b) Expectations:
 A seamless browsing and purchasing experience.
 Trust in the app's ability to provide reliable sellers and quality
products.
 Secure and hassle-free payments.
2. Sellers:
a) Users who want to list their used books for sale to earn money or declutter.
b) Expectations:
 A simple process for uploading book details and tracking sales.
 Transparency in transactions and payment timelines.
 Mechanisms to attract buyers (e.g., proper listing visibility, ratings).
3. Admins:
a) A team responsible for managing the platform, ensuring quality control, and
resolving disputes.
b) Responsibilities:
 Approve/reject book listings to maintain app quality.
 Monitor transactions to prevent fraud or disputes.
 Address user queries and feedback.

B. Actions by Users
1. Buyers:
a) Actions:
 Create an account or log in.
 Search for books by keyword or browse categories.
 Filter results by price range, condition, author, or location.
  View detailed information about a book (title, description, condition,
price, seller rating).
 Add books to the cart and proceed to checkout.
 Complete payment via secure methods.
 Track the order until delivery.
 Rate and review the seller after receiving the book.
b) Expected Results:
 A smooth user experience that leads to successful book purchases.
 Trust in the app due to accurate book descriptions and quality
assurance.
2. Sellers:
a) Actions:
 Create an account or log in.
 List a book by uploading photos, entering details (title, author,
condition, price), and selecting a category.
 Manage book listings (edit or remove them if needed).
 Track sales, accept buyer orders, and ship books.
 Receive payments after order completion.
b) Expected Results:
 A simple and effective way to sell books.
 Increased visibility and sales through the app.
3. Admins:
a) Actions:
 Approve or reject book listings based on quality and relevance.
 Monitor transactions for disputes or fraudulent activity.
 Provide support for users facing issues with listings, payments, or
delivery.
b) Expected Results:
 A smooth-running app that maintains quality and user satisfaction.

C. Functional Requirements
The app needs to support the following core features for each user type:
1. For Buyers:
 Account Features: Sign up, log in, manage profile, view purchase history.
 Book Search and Discovery: Search bar, filters, categories, and
recommendations.
 Order and Payment: Add to cart, checkout, choose a delivery address, and
pay securely.
 Post-Purchase: Order tracking and seller rating.
2. For Sellers:
 Account Features: Sign up, log in, manage profile, and view sales history.
 Book Listing: Add book details (title, author, condition, price, description,
photos).
 Inventory Management: View active listings, edit or remove them as needed.
 Order Management: Accept orders, provide shipping updates, and confirm
delivery.
3. For Admins:
 Platform Management: Approve/reject listings, moderate user-generated
content, handle reports of misconduct.
 User Support: Respond to queries, assist with disputes, and monitor app
performance.
User Journey and Information Architecture:

A. User Journey
1. Buyer's Journey:
 Objective: To find, purchase, and receive books efficiently.
 Steps:
1. Signup/Login:
 The buyer creates an account using an email, phone number, or
social media login.
 Post-login, they are taken to the homepage.
2. Browse/Search for Books:
 Use the search bar or browse categories (e.g., Textbooks, Fiction,
Non-Fiction).
 Apply filters (price range, location, book condition, etc.) to refine
search results.
 View a list of books with key details (title, price, condition).
3. View Book Details:
 Click on a book to see detailed information (e.g., title, author,
condition, seller rating, and photos).
 Option to contact the seller through in-app messaging for queries.
4. Add to Cart and Checkout:
 Add the selected book to the cart.
 Proceed to checkout, select a delivery address, and choose a
payment method (UPI, card, or cash-on-delivery).
5. Post-Purchase Actions:
 Track the order in the "My Orders" section.
 Rate and review the seller once the book is delivered.

2. Seller's Journey:
o Objective: To list books and manage sales effortlessly.
o Steps:
1. Signup/Login:
 The seller creates an account and accesses the seller dashboard
from the homepage.
2. List a Book:
 Navigate to the "Sell a Book" section.
 Enter details: book title, author, condition, category, price, and
description.
 Upload clear photos of the book.
 Submit the listing for admin approval.
3. Manage Listings:
 View all active listings, including pending and approved ones.
 Edit or delete listings if needed.
4. Fulfill Orders:
 Receive notifications when a book is sold.
 Package the book and ship it to the buyer using the provided
address.
 Update the shipping status within the app.
5. Post-Sale Actions:
 Track payments for completed orders.
  Respond to buyer reviews and feedback.

3. Admin’s Journey:
o Objective: To oversee app operations and ensure quality.
o Steps:
1. Login:
 Log in to the admin dashboard via a web interface.
2. Review Listings:
 View submitted book listings.
 Approve or reject listings based on content quality and relevance.
3. Handle Disputes:
 Resolve buyer-seller conflicts.
 Provide refunds or take corrective action as needed.
4. Monitor Activity:
 Track user activity, app performance, and flagged content.
 Ensure smooth operation by generating regular reports.

B. Information Architecture
1. Homepage:
o Elements:
 Search bar at the top.
 Categories (e.g., Textbooks, Fiction, Non-Fiction) displayed as cards or
tabs.
 Featured books/deals section for promotions or popular books.
 Navigation bar at the bottom (Home, Sell, Orders, Profile).

2. Book Listing Page:

o Elements:
 A grid/list view showing:
 Book thumbnail, title, price, condition.
 Seller rating and location.
 Filters for refining search results (e.g., price, condition, author).
 Sorting options (e.g., price low to high, relevance).

3. Book Details Screen:

o Elements:
 High-quality images of the book.
 Title, author, category, and description.
 Book condition (e.g., New, Good, Acceptable).
 Price and shipping fee (if any).
 Seller information (name, rating, and reviews).
 "Add to Cart" and "Message Seller" buttons.

4. Cart & Checkout Screen:

o Elements:
 List of books added to the cart with:
 Book title, price, and quantity.
 Delivery address form.
 Payment options (UPI, net banking, COD).
 Order summary showing total cost (including shipping).
 5. Profile Screen:
o For Buyers:
 View purchase history and track orders.
o For Sellers:
 Manage listings and view sales history.
o Common Elements:
 Edit account details (e.g., name, contact information).

6. Admin Dashboard:
o Elements:
 List of pending book listings for approval.
 User management tools (view and manage user accounts).
 Analytics section (e.g., number of active users, books sold).
 Dispute resolution centre.

C. Navigation and Screen Linkage

1. From Homepage:
o Tap on a category → Redirect to a book listing page.
o Use the search bar → Redirect to search results.
o Tap on "Sell" in the bottom navigation bar → Redirect to the seller dashboard.

2. From Book Listing Page:

o Tap on a book → Redirect to the book details screen.

3. From Book Details Screen:

o Tap "Add to Cart" → Redirect to the cart screen.
o Tap "Message Seller" → Open in-app chat feature.

4. From Cart Screen:

o Tap "Proceed to Checkout" → Redirect to checkout screen.
o Tap "Continue Shopping" → Redirect back to the homepage.

5. From Profile Screen:

o Tap "Order History" → Redirect to order details.
o Tap "Manage Listings" (for sellers) → Redirect to active listings.

6. Admin Flow:
o Admin logs into the dashboard → Access listings or disputes → Take actions.

Wireframe:

1. Homepage:
2. Menu

3. For Buyers
 4. For Sellers

5. My sales:

Revenue Generation Strategies:

The app monetizes through the following channels:

 1. Listing Fees:
o Sellers pay a small fee (e.g., ₹10-₹50) to list books for sale on the app. This
incentivizes serious sellers and generates revenue from high listing volumes.
2. Commission on Sales:
o The app charges a percentage-based commission (e.g., 5%-10%) on every
successful sale made through the platform.
3. Premium Membership for Sellers:
o A subscription-based premium membership offering additional benefits:
 Priority listing for better visibility.
 Analytics on book views and buyer activity.
 Reduced commission fees.
4. Featured Listings:
o Sellers can pay extra to have their books highlighted or featured on the
homepage or in search results for increased visibility.
5. Advertising:
o In-app advertisements for publishers, educational institutions, or related
businesses like stationery and e-learning platforms. (Example: Google Ad
Sense)
6. Logistics and Delivery Charges:
o Partner with delivery services and charge buyers for delivery. A small markup
on shipping costs contributes to revenue.
7. Affiliate Marketing:
o Promote related services such as book rental platforms or e-books and earn
commissions through affiliate marketing.
8. Data Insights:
o Offer anonymized market insights to publishers, libraries, or institutions for a
fee.

Metrics:

 New signups per day/month/quarterly.

 How many users are buying the books?
 How many users are selling the books?
 How many deals are getting completed?
 How many users are requesting logistic service?
 How many users are not returning back after signup is done.
 How many users are not using the application again after listing the books.